A week into the New Year, and we get socked with a blizzard and frigid temps. With a day off from school and a lingering cold for this mommy, we were forced to stay indoors…and that means Christmas toys get extra game play. Luckily, my girls received some real winners (no sarcasm intended), and have been happily keeping busy with their gifts. But of course, since we received a promo item whose packaging I couldn’t resist, we just had to open it up. The nondescript Creativity Can was cloaked in an air of mystery…ok, soI like being dramatic–but the truth of the matter is the plain brown paper-clad canister would not reveal the identities of its contents (35 pieces worth), only its “nutrition label” promised to increase problem-solving abilities, encourage family bonding and put a smile on our faces. Well, that was enough to get my curious kids interested, and so they discovered a hodgepodge of craft materials, from googly eyes and pom poms, to a jingle bell and plastic wheels, to inspire even the most temperamental artist. My girls went to town and created bug-eyed creatures, paper flowers and a bell necklace. My 9-year-old even went so far as to re-purpose the can by turning it into a storage container with a face–how’s that for helping save the planet? Initially mailed out as a promotional item, Creativity Cans have gone on to inspire other kids across the country to make their own creations and have their parents share them online. You can check out the more than 300 projects on the gallery of photos and upload your own (cans are still available at participating retailers; just call your local toy store and ask if they still have any). Better yet, The Big Creativity Can has enough supplies for 4-6 kids, features extras like air-dry clay, and is available for purchase. We think it’s the perfect indoor activity for this winter…especially if we have more snow days like today!
In a Nutshell: All-in-one fun in a can..we’re completely serious!
